Beware of the stinging pus caterpillars
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It is rather often that I write about garden pests in this column.
But when the time of year comes to warn you about pus caterpillars, I often think I should write the word caution in big, bold, red letters.
This is one little worm that you definitely do not want to come in contact with.
Believe me, I speak from experience; these little guys can really cause some serious pain.
And my encounter was mild compared to many.
The pus caterpillar is considered the most toxic of all the stinging caterpillars. It has venomous spines that actually appear to be combed back hairs, all over its body.
I've known of two hypersensitive people who brushed up against one of these caterpillars and had to be hospitalized.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of times of the year when the pus caterpillars, more commonly called asp, show up in our area. I have recently had several reports from people finding them on several different types of plants in their yards.
They are very commonly found feeding on ash and crape myrtle trees. But they can also be found on many types of shrubs, as well as other plants.
As with all other types of worms and caterpillars, you can use the BT Worm Killer on any type of plant and it will get rid of the pus caterpillars.
I don't remember a fall when I've seen so many moths around. Moths and butterflies are the source of all our worms and caterpillars.
The flannel moth is the parent to the pus caterpillar. I would suggest keeping your bottle of BT Worm Killer handy, and use it at the first sign of worms or bad caterpillars.
Another pest that's frequently reported is the aphid. Aphids are the most common and appear to be the most numerous of all the insects.
These guys won't sting you, but they do have piercing sucking mouth parts. They use these to suck plant juices. This plant juice is then excreted from the aphids as a sticky, honeydew substance.
Eventually, a mold will develop on this honeydew. This sooty mold is not harmful to the plant, but is very unsightly, especially on plants that are grown for their ornamental value.
If you have ever parked your car under a tree and then noticed a sticky film all over the windshield, you can bet the tree has aphids.
Aphids come in several different colors; black, white, green, gray, even a light red. They range in size from one to five millimeters in length and have a rather pear-shaped body.
They are seldom seen moving. When they do move, it is at a very slow pace. Some aphids have wings and others don't.
An interesting thing about aphids is their relationship with ants. Ants will actually herd the aphids to stay in certain areas so that the ants can enjoy the honeydew.
The ants will even protect the aphids from predators.
Nature can be very interesting, to say the least.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of aphids is to spray the plant with a good blast of water from your garden hose. Unfortunately, aphids can become a problem in large trees where spraying the hose just is not practical.
This is a good time to use lady bugs. These good guys love to snack on aphids. In fact, it's thought that aphids are the lady bugs' favorite meal. Other products you can use include Neem oil and Spinosad.
OK, one more problem to address this week: several reports about bougainvilleas being eaten by something. All signs point to a worm or caterpillar.
Use the BT Worm Killer every week to 10 days and that will stop the problem.
Until next time, lets try to garden with nature, not against it, and maybe all our weeds will become wildflowers.
Laurie Garretson is a Victoria gardener and nursery owner. Send your gardening questions to laurie@vicad.com or in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77902.
